Iam sitting in a private room after being admitted after a quick review in A & E with Caleb by my side. He is quiet in his anger. It is simmering in him and he lashes out at anyone who he doesn't know that approaches me. We are waiting for an x-ray of my cheek because the doctors are pretty sure it is fractured. I don't realise I am bleeding from the cut until Caleb pressed his t-shirt to my face after finding me. The hospital is refusing to stitch that up until they have the images they need in case it needs to be reset.
"Have you heard from Matthew?" I ask again. Admittedly I should have been asking if they found Hunter but it is a lot easier to ask about Matthew. Without speaking he shakes his head.
Caleb had jumped into the ambulance with me and Matthew had reported the assault to the police. We had an officer waiting to ask me questions straight after the x-ray. But my lawyer called ahead asking that all questions wait until he arrived.
Caleb and I sit in stony silence until one of the technicians approach quietly, inviting the hospital orderly to wheel me into the room. Initially they had been pretty insistent that Caleb wait outside, but after a few tense minutes they relented. So now he is glaring at the poor lady and the hospital orderly as they hide behind the radioactive shield, wearing a protective apron.
"Okay, last one, Verginius, can you move your head a little, that's it. Now breathe in. Hold," a series of mechanical shutters sounded. Once the lady is moving towards me again, Caleb quietly let go of my hand, and steps out of the way so the orderly can position the wheelchair for me. We are moving out of the room in a few minutes, I realise belatedly that I hadn't even thanked the technician, my head is still pretty foggy and I am crashing after the adrenaline and shock of our attack wore off.
"Leave it," he says softly when I start to turn in my seat to thank her.
"What's wrong Caleb?" I ask a little confused as to why his anger seems to be blossoming and why he isn’t comforting me instead.
Caleb's phone buzzes in his hand and I watched him closely as he rereads the text before putting it in his pocket. His teeth noticeably grinding together as he moves to stand at my side as I am wheeled back to my private room. It is crazy to fathom that now I am here, in the same hospital that Grandpa is still in.
"Caleb?" I ask again. Instead he totally ignores me and moves to stand in front of the wheelchair without looking at me or speaking with me as we approach my room. The noise between us is as confusing as it is scary. Without another word though we arrive and the police officer that is waiting is now joined by another.
They both turned to look at me, but no one spoke until the hospital orderly had resettled me and the nurse that bustled in behind us finished reconnecting the IV. Caleb is just grabbing another blanket when the first officer speaks.
"Ms Bellafonte, I understand that your solicitor Ian will be with us momentarily. I need to go though. I want to assure you that you have our full support. We have just issued a warrant for the arrest of Dominic Watson for suspicion of assault and battery. And we have forensics already onsite where the other victim was found," his calm and professional manner calms my jittery nerves until the last few words sink in. My hand flies up to my mouth but Caleb pushes the policeman out of the way so that I can only see him.
"He is coming in an ambulance now Ginny. You have to calm down. Hunter will be okay. He has been beaten pretty badly, but Matthew is with him now. Ginny, look at me. I promise you, he is okay," he holds my hand and I watch his thumb trail over my shaking hand.
"What happened?" I question.
The policeman speaks up again and shuffles back in so I can see him properly.
"Mr. Hollingsworth was located about four blocks away by one of our patrol cars. We had an APB out after Mr. Jameson called in your assault. He indicated that your friend was missing and we have been coordinating a search with Maximus Security for the past couple of hours. Obviously it is a high profile case and Mr. Jameson was pretty insistent about us working together. Neither here nor there now. The victim was found about ten minutes ago and as Mr. Savage was just advised, the ambulance was called. We have no further information except to say they are expected to be down in emergency within five minutes. Look I suspect I know what the issue is but in your words, why do you think your perpetrator is escalating. What has changed within the last week? Something has set him off, any ideas what it is?" he questions. My mind is still stuck on the fact that Hunter had been hurt so badly. Thankfully Caleb finds his voice.
"The police department is already investigating the leaked video that was released to the media only hours ago. I am sure you are aware of what it contains. We suspect that Mr. Hollingsworth being around Ms. Bellafonte at a few public outings in the past week is the catalyst. Before that Ms. Bellafonte was quite obviously not involved with anyone," Caleb spoke factually.
"Sounds about right, although from what I understand Mr. Watson has been targeting Ms. Bellafonte for a few years, so,” the lead detective says.
“They were all at school together. We all were, except for Matthew. Matthew is currently downstairs with Hunter,” Caleb added quickly.
“Why the continued harassment?” the other detective questions in a neutral tone.
“Because I said no to Dom, years and years ago. I didn’t accept his feeble attempt at an apology after he slept with my supposed best friend. He never could understand why I wouldn’t accept him back with open arms. It went on for a very long time. Dom wavered between sobbing apologies, to burning rage because I wouldn’t accept it,” I add, a rush of misplaced guilt following. Caleb looks at me knowingly before shaking his head in frustration.
“A lot of people have been told no before Ginny. Dom is more than that, his delusions concerning you are pretty complex. But this is getting more and more dangerous. He is out of control now and pretty soon he is going to lose it completely,” Caleb growled.
“This isn’t bad enough? Hunter is downstairs in emergency, he was beaten to an inch of his life,” I hiss back.
“Of course it is bad. But you know that he just used his money for that. This is personal now. He will be furious that Hunter is back. And openly involved with you,” Caleb interrupts and adds. He had lost his calm demeanor hours ago.
“It’s been a goddamn week!” My frustration is evident.
“So just imagine what he is thinking of doing next. He will be simmering in hatred and revenge about now. Especially after he has been detained and questioned,” Caleb continued.
“We have increased patrols around your office building and your home. We would suggest that you get more security and lay low. Let us do our investigation without having to worry about protecting you. I am leaving you with one of our detectives, who need to take a statement from you. I will wait for our other victim to arrive and speak with your partner, Matthew, to see if he has anything to add. Detective Smithers, will leave you a victim impact kit as well as leave detailed contact information with your solicitor. I am sorry that this has happened to you again Ms. Bellafonte, but I assure you, we take our job very seriously. We are doing everything to ensure we have sufficient evidence and following correct protocol to get an appropriate sentence when we go to trial. Excuse me," the detective walks out after a quick nod at the three of us. The clack of his shoes resounding even over the noise from the bustling ward.
I don't know how long I spoke for once Ian arrived. Caleb recounters the events after and I listen intently as he fills in the blanks I don't realise I miss. My head keeps turning to the door whenever I hear movement nearby, but it is hours before we see Matthew. The grim weariness that is etched onto his face has a renewed level of anxiety quickly sitting high in my throat.
Matthew offers me a small tight smile when he finally makes his way to my room, before he walks past Ian and the detective, grabbing Caleb in a tight embrace. He stands there and murmurs quietly into Caleb's shoulder without raising his head for a few minutes before he lifts up to kiss his partner on the lips. He doesn't let go of Caleb’s hand when he steps out of the embrace and the first thing I notice is the awful paleness of his drawn out tired face. With a final squeeze of Caleb's hand Matthew turns back to the detective and Ian and moves closer to them. The three spoke in a quiet huddle before the other two packed up their stuff and left the room. Caleb followed after them and closed the door quietly.
My heart rate picks up exponentially as I watch them leave and then I wait, with a rising feeling of nausea, before I snap.
"Just fucking tell me," I bark out. The volume of my voice sends searing pain through my head, but I can deal with that. Right now not knowing is killing me more.
